Overview

• The tour starts in Brussels with Wang Yi meeting EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas before visits to Germany, France and Belgium
• Beijing portrays the mission as deepening a strategic partnership with Europe to counter U.S. unilateralism and protectionism
• Key trade disputes on the agenda include EU duties on Chinese electric vehicles and retaliatory measures targeting French cognac
• China has imposed export licenses on rare earths since April and proposed an EU ‘green channel’ this month to secure critical materials
• The visit paves the way for a China-EU summit in Beijing next month commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations